USS LST 325 to dock in Ashland City for Warship Week

History will dock in Ashland City Oct. 1-6 when the USS LST 325 visits Riverbluff Park for Warship Week in Cheatham County.

The LST 325 is a World War II-era Landing Ship, Tank that served in the D-Day invasion and was designed to transport tanks, troops and supplies directly to shore during amphibious operations.

The six-day visit is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the area and give the public an opportunity to tour the historic vessel and learn about the role LSTs played in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The USS LST Ship Memorial works to preserve the ship and educate visitors about the vessels and the men who served aboard them. LST 325 was acquired by the USS LST Ship Memorial in 2000 and brought from Greece to Mobile, Alabama, on a 6,500-mile journey. The ship remains operational.

“The mission of The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. is to educate its visitors to the role of the LST in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. It is our desire to preserve the memory of these ships and all the countless heroic men who died in battle during the service to their country,” the USS LST Ship Memorial online mission statement says. “By preserving this priceless piece of American history, we will bring honor to the American ship building industries that produced them, the crews who served and defended them, and those who were carried onto the invasion shores by them.”

It continues, “To support this educational mission, the museum will present exhibits and programs to the public. Artifacts, books, photographs, oral histories, and archival material relating to the service of LSTs in general, and the USS LST 325 in particular, will also be collected and displayed.”

Warship Week will take place at Riverbluff Park in Ashland City from Oct. 1 through Oct. 6. 

Self-guided tours will be available to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $20, children are $10 and children under the age of 5 are free. School group tours can be arranged upon request.